MLS Releases Jersey Week Schedule

By Douglas Smith

Trevor Ruszkowski – USA TODAY Sports

After a successful campaign last year, MLS has announced its second Jersey Week event for the beginning of March. The event will work off the theme of “Soccer, Made in North America” that focuses on the detail and the art. Local events are scheduled to share information with supporters and display the nuances in each design. The exclusive jersey provider of MLS, Adidas, has provided at least one new jersey for each club. While some may see this as simply a play to get more money from fans, it is truly a good way to drum up interest in the league, make connections with fans and generate more revenue.

Soccer fever is at an all-time high during a World Cup year so hitting the devoted supporters through tales that lean on their experiences makes smart business sense. Last year only 13 teams unveiled a new jersey so the response for those teams must have warranted an expanded Jersey Week for 2014. Jersey Week will take place March 3-7, 2014 with the season kicking off on March 8.

There will be previews of jerseys available via the MLS online shop prior to the unveiling for each team. There will also be a social media push using the hashtag #JerseyWeek and plenty of coverage on the league’s website. Five teams will host a jersey event on March 3 to kick off Jersey Week. D.C. United and the San Jose Earthquakes have already held their events. See the full schedule below.

The timing of the event and the soccer interest level in a World Cup year should make it a success. It is a smart business decision and one that creates plenty of discussion. The jersey designs are always scrutinized, but it creates buzz. Let us know what you think about the new jerseys when the events start.